Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni is visiting Paris to promote joint actions that include the launch of travel packages and the endorsement of specific target markets in both countries. She met with UNESCO Director-General Irena Bokova yesterday, to discuss the organization of a conference on "Culture-Tourism-Economic Growth" in Athens next fall, in cooperation with the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO.

Kefalogianni also met with French Tourism and Development Agency Atout France General Director Christian Mantei, regarding the transfer of know-how on issues involving organizational structure, as this is an area where Atout France has expertise. They further discussed about the launch of a joint promotion aiming at furthering tourism in the markets of U.S., China and Brazil and the creation of Greek-French travel packages. These would aim to facilitate the movement of travelers – especially those from other continents and long-haul destinations – between the two countries.

According to Kefalogianni, Greece wishes to implement initiatives modeled after France's "destination contracts," placing regional tourism efforts under the umbrella of the national tourism effort, noting that French know-how will be valuable toward this end.

See also Greek National Tourism Organisation Press Release (26.03.2014, in Greek)